CONFIDENTIAL

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SUBJECT: INDOCHINESE REFUGEES: FCO QUERY ON U.S. PCSITION ON INDOCHINESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

REF: LONDON 27259 (NOTAL)

1. (C) SUMMARY: THE DEPARTMENT HAS REVIEWED HMG ́S PLANS FOR INCREASING THEIR OFFTAKE OF INDOCHINESE

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REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG AND THE ATTENDENT REQUEST THAT to Washington

OTHER GOVERNMENTS ALSO INCREASE THEIR EFFORTS. THE DEPARTMENT DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE HKG. IT IS THE DEPARTMENT'S PLAN TO CONSIDER AN OFFTAKE SIMILAR TO THE FY 1985 ABOUT 1,600 PER YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT REMAINS SUFFORTIVE OF HMG'S EFFORT IN HONG KONG, BUT GIVEN THE CURRENT UNCERTAIN STATUS OF THE BUDGET AND THE IMPACT OF OTHER PENDING LEGISLATION, IT CAN NOT MAKE A FIRM COMMITMENT AT THIS TIME. END SUMMARY.

2. (U) REFTEL REQUESTED THE DEPARTMENT'S GUIDANCE ON THE REPLY TO BE CONVEYED TO FCO MINISTER TIMOTHY RENTON, ON DECEMBER 17, REGARDING USG PLANNED REFUGEE OFFTAKE FROM BONG KONG IN RESPONSE TO HMG'S RECENTLY ANNOUNCED DECISION. BMG'S PLANNED RESETTLEMENT EFFORT WHICH WOULD

TAKE 500 REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG AND OTHERS FROM FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES IN THE REGION WHO HAVE RELATIVES IN THE U.K. MARKS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THEIR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION. THE DEPARTMENT DISCUSSED THIS SITUATION WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ́S KENNETH WOODHOUSE IN OCTOBER ON HIS VISIT.

3. (C) BMG'S RESETTLEMENT FROM HONG KONG HAS BEEN NCT CRIOUSLY POOR OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. IN FACT, HMG HAS ACCEPTED 49, 99, 54 (TOTAL 202) REFUGEES FROM HONG KCNG IN FYS 83, 84, AND 85 RESPECTIVELY. THE USG HAS RESETTLED 1750, 1720, AND 1650 (TOTAL 5,120) FOR THE SAME PERIOD. THUS, THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT BY HMG OF INCREASED REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT WAS GREETED WITH CONSIDERABLE INTEREST BY THE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER MAJOR

CCNFIDENTIAL

STATE 381489/01

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 19 DEC 1985

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CONFIDENTIAL

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